Kasab to come before court for the first time on Apr 15

Mumbai, April 12 (PTI) Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, the
lone arrested terrorist in 26/11 case, will appear in person
for the first time on April 15 before the special court housed
at high security Arthur Road central jail here.

Earlier, he has been produced before the court on
television through video conferencing.

The police have provided a thick security cover in and
around the jail, regulated vehicular traffic and restricted
movement of people in bylanes near the prison.

Judge M L Tahilyani had, on last occasion, ordered
that the proceedings would begin in his court on April 15 at
the Arthur road jail where Kasab is also lodged. He had also
directed the prosecution and defence lawyers to come prepared
for the trial on that day.

The trial, which was expected to commence early this
month, had been delayed because of re-construction of the
special court in the jail. The work has now been almost
completed, police sources told PTI.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam is expected to
deliver his opening address on the same day to establish the
involvement of Kasab and other LeT suspects who unleashed
terror in Mumbai by firing indiscriminately at public places
killing more than 160 persons.

Prosecutor Nikam is also likely to table crucial
evidence against accused Kasab, Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin
Ahmed, facing the trial as well as against those who have been
arrested in Pakistan by the local police there.

While filing chargesheet on February 25, Nikam had
told the court that further investigation in this case was on.
In view of this statement, everyone in legal circles is
waiting to hear when the supplementary chargesheet would be
filed.

Pakistan had raised a volley of questions in this case
and the Indian Government has already forwarded the dossier
to the neighbouring country, answering its queries.

"I am ready for the trial. My aim is to conclude the
trial within the shortest possible time," Nikam told PTI.

The trial is expected go on at least for six months on
a day-to-day basis, Nikam said.

More than 2000 witnesses have been cited but the
prosecution has not announced how many would be examined.

Kasab and others are facing charges of waging war
against the nation, murder and attempt to murder, besides
conspiracy to commit terror acts by firing at people in public
places and killing more than 160.

Ansari and Sabauddin are charged with doing a recce of
Taj Mahal and Trident hotels and CST railway station. They had
allegedly prepared maps and gave them over to LeT. PTI SVS
DEP